Question
Hi jack, i live in new hampshire and have recently found these tiny micro bugs all over my decks and any wood layin around, No big deal to me but my wife and children are finding them all over their arms and legs, they race real fast and i think they are brown, hard to tell as they are so small. I just want to make sure they are no harm to the family. They say they are gettin bit by them but i had some on me to test that and no bites...not sure what they are, there is a birds nest under the deck and the baby birds have them all over them, very strange...any help would be greatly appreciated...thank you..jason

Answer
Jason,

Most likely these are barklice (psocids). They are not related to true lice and do not bite. They feed on fungi which is probably growing on the deck. They are harmless and if you wash off the mold/fungi the barklice will go away. See http://livingwithbugs.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-are-these-bugs-on-my-deck.html for a picture and similar question. Post a follow up if you have questions.

Jack DeAngelis